DIY Glass Aquariums

Building an aquarium takes careful planning to contain the weight of the water at about 10 lbs. per gallon. The higher the walls of the aquarium, the thicker the glass required. Plate glass or annealed glass is commonly used. Tempered glass is not recommended because it shatters into many tiny pieces when it breaks and cannot be cut once tempered. For an average 55-gallon aquarium, 1/4- inch-thick glass is adequate for walls up to 14 inches high, and 3/8-inch-thick glass is best for higher walls.

Things You'll Need

  • Glass cutter
  • Silicon carbide sandpaper
  • Acetone
  • Paper towels
  • Electrical or duct tape
  • Silicone (not mold and mildew resistant)
  • Razor blade
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Instructions

    • 1

      Cut the glass to the size you have decided for the aquarium. Smooth the edges with sandpaper.

    • 2

      Lay the pieces of glass out on a flat surface. Arrange them with the bottom in the middle and each of the sides laid down flat around the bottom in their final position before lifting them upright to fit into place as the sides of the aquarium.

    • 3

      Clean all the edges that will be adhered together with acetone. This improves the grip of the silicone.

    • 4

      Cut about 20 pieces of tape and stick them so they are hanging partly off a nearby handy surface. They will must be readily available when sticking the sides together.

    • 5

      Place two pieces of tape on each side of the bottom of the aquarium so that the sticky side is facing up, ready to be folded up to help hold the sides in place.

    • 6

      Apply a steady, even bead of silicone with no bubbles about 1/4 inch wide to the bottom edge of the front panel of the aquarium. Lift the panel upright and move it into place against the bottom. Do not worry about silicone squeezing out as it can be cut off with the razor blade once it cures.

    • 7

      Hold the piece in place and draw your index finger along the bead of silicone that has squeezed out on the inside of the tank so that it smoothly fills the angle between the sides.

    • 8

      Fold the tape from the bottom up into place against the bottom of the front side.

    • 9

      Apply a bead of silicone along the side panel where it will fit against the bottom and front panels and press it firmly into place. Smooth the silicone along the inside angle with your index finger as before, and fold the pieces of tape on the bottom up against the bottom of the side.

    • 10

      Take two additional pieces of tape from the ones you cut earlier and place them along the seam between the front and side, folding them around the corner to hold both pieces in place. Repeat steps 9 and 10 for the other side panel.

    • 11

      Apply an even bead of silicone along the bottom and two sides of the back panel and press it firmly into place. Using your index finger as before, smooth the silicone into the inside angle along the bottom and two sides and put tape in place to hold everything together.

    • 12

      Apply a smooth, even bead of silicone along each of the eight interior angles of the aquarium and smooth it into place with your finger.

    • 13

      Install a brace with silicone if one is needed. The brace is a 4- to 6-inch-wide piece of glass that extends from the front edge to the back edge at the exact middle of the aquarium, providing support to the weak point of the long sides of the aquarium. Allow the silicone to dry for at least 24 hours.

    • 14

      Trim the silicone as needed with the razor blade.